Castilla la Mancha - a guide to the area including Toledo and Cuenca | Spanish-Living.com Home › Explore › Regions of Spain › Guide to Castilla la Mancha Castilla-La Mancha encompasses the vast plains of central Spain – a land of fairytale castles, wine and the famous windmills immortalised in Miguel Cervantes' Don Quixote (the best selling book of all time after the bible). It's the producer of Spain's best cheese, Manchego, and it's a region which boasts the world's biggest vineyard. To date Castilla La Mancha has remained virtually untouched by tourism, attracting only a sprinkling of Don Quixote devotees and 'cultural tourists' keen for a glimpse of the real Spain away from the crowded costas. This autonomous region of Spain offers a number of rather less glitzy attractions for the first time visitor to explore. There's the magnificent city of Toledo , the regional capital, which is like a giant monument and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

Castilla-La Mancha is a spell-binding concoction of grandiose medieval buildings, Moorish mosques, winding cobbled streets and ancient city walls. The city was the spiritual home of the famous Greek-born painter El Greco and the modest 16th century house where he lived has now been turned into a museum of his work. Don Quixote fans will want to see the huge windmills of Consuegra (the 'giants' against which Cervantes' hero went into battle) and Dulcinea's House in the village of Toboso (Dulcinea was the object or Quixote's platonic love). In the villager of Esquivias you can visit the well-preserved 16th century house where Cervantes is believed to have written part of his masterpiece. The region is littered with ancient castles, many of them dating back to the days of Moorish domination. One of the most fascinating villages in Castilla-La Mancha is Cuenca , in the province of the same name to the East of Madrid .

The village's famous 15th century 'casas colgadas' (hanging houses) cling impossibly to the sides of sheer cliffs 200 metres above the junction of two river canyons. Unlike the arid plains of La Mancha, Cuenca province is a hikers' haven of lush forests, mountains, scenic gorges and waterfalls. Big changes ahead in Castilla La Mancha But all that's about to change with the announcement that this sleepy section of central Spain is to be the new home of a Las Vegas style gambling and leisure complex. It's one of the most ambitious projects of its kind that Europe has ever seen and it has put the world spotlight firmly on a previously overlooked region which, until now, had only a 400-year-old novel as its major claim to fame. Construction work on the project, announced at the end of November 2005, is due to start towards the end of 2006 in the province of Ciudad Real , 190 kilometres South of Madrid .

It will include a 50,000 square foot casino, a luxury hotel with 850 rooms, a 30,000 square foot spa centre, a shopping mall and a 3,000 seat theatre. Due for completion in 2008, the scheme is the brainchild of American entertainment giants Harrah's who operate several luxurious gambling centres in Las Vegas including Caesar's Palace which is probably the most prestigious casino resort in the world. UPDATE: According to recent press information the targeted opening date for this complex is now 2011. So if you want a taste of that magical 'Man from La Mancha' country where most foreign tourists fear to tread, you'd better get there fairly quickly! Two new motorways and a planned international airport are included in the project which looks set to propel Castilla-La Mancha into the ranks of Europe's top entertainment centres.

Cities of Castilla La Mancha Castilla La Mancha Travel Guide | Spanish Fiestas Castilla La Mancha Travel Guide Tweet Castilla La Mancha, one of the most sparsely populated of Spain’s autonomous Communities, is divided into five separate provinces – Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo, which is the capital city. South of Madrid and north of Andalucía and Murcia, this is the land of Don Quijote’s windmills and acres and acres of olive groves and sunflowers. Geographically the region can be divided into two separate regions – the extensive, flat plateau, the meseta, and the mountains encircling it, which include parts of the Iberian Mountain range and the Sierra Morena. The rivers Tagus and Guadiana both flow estwards through the region, whilst the Jucar river heads east. Another geographical aspect of note is the area around Cuenca created by erosion which includes such rocks formations as La Ciudad Encantada, amongst others.

If you’re driving south from Madrid be sure to stop off to see the windmills at Consuegra Before the Romans arrived in the area, this was a land of pasture only, inhabited by Carpetani and Vetoni. The Romans introduced farming on a much more organised level, and the farms created were then taken over by the more significant of the Visigoth families and then, later still, to the Moors. Toledo became an important strategic position for the Romans and the Visigoths recognised its importance by making it their chief city. Until taken by the Christians in 1085 by Alfonso VI, it was the prominent city in the centre of Moorish Spain . When Castile and Aragón were united under the Catholic monarchs in 1492, and Valladolid and Madrid received more royal patronage, the ´dry, waterless land’ that is La Mancha began to lose its elevated position. It ceased to exist completely in 1833, being absorbed into Madrid’s province, Castilla La Nueva. When the autonomous communities were drawn up in 1982, the new region was established.

A Panoramic View Across the Rooftops of Toledo Economically this is one of the areas which suffered most from the drift of young people into Madrid looking for work and there is still little industry in the region outside the main cities and even there it is quite restricted. There is a large petrol refinery at Ciudad Real and a nuclear power station at Zorita de los Canes but the region as a whole lacks energy resources compared to most of the rest of Spain. The most important agricultural products remain wheat, grapes, olives, sunflowers and cotton, although this is also the centre of Spain for saffron growing. Outside Toledo, tourism has not really developed at the rate it has in many other areas of Spain. Destination Map of Castilla La Mancha Getting to Castilla la Mancha You’re highly unlikely to head for Castilla la Mancha as your primary destination but will most likely access its main attractions on excursions from Madrid which is less than an hour’s drive from Toledo, the region’s capital. There had been plans for an international airport in Ciudad Real which would connect with the high-speed AVE rail network between Madrid and Andalucia.

The airport was constructed and operated with very limited traffic for three years until its closure in April 2012 amid serious accusations of corruption directed against its investors. There are currently AVE train stations in Ciudad Real and Puertollano and an excellent road system throughout the region which contains the main roads from Madrid to Zaragoza, Valencia, Andalucía and Badajoz as well as the road to Toledo itself. Visit the Imperial City of Toledo If ever a city had the atmosphere of a living museum, it has to be Toledo . Situated on a hill and more or less surrounded by the river Tajo and the old walls, the old town is totally untouched by modern development, making it crammed with monuments of every age in Spanish history . There are Moorish-Modejar-Jewish buildings – including an incredible Sinagoga del Tránsito which is as symbolically complex as the Mezquita in Córdoba . There is a fine Gothic cathedral and many Renaissance buildings of great merit. The city’s dominant building, though, is the Alcázar, a fortress since Roman times.

This was also the site of a terrible siege during the Civil War – you can still see bullet holes and shell damage – but has been rebuilt since. Most harrowing of all for many visitors is the room in which the besieged Francoist leader, Moscardó, refused to surrender even though he was told his son was to be killed if he did not do so. The words telling the boy to ‘prepare to die’ say much about the futility of the war but also about the courage of so many of the people involved in it. The Alcázar in Toledo was the Scene of a Famous Siege During the Civil War Toledo was also the Spanish home town of El Greco and many of his paintings are here , including one of his acknowledged masterpieces, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’ in the Church of Santo Tome. British visitors to Toledo can often be seen gasping in disbelief at the array of swords and knives on open sale in many of the old shops in the centre – Toledo has long been famous for the quality of its swords; those used in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films were mostly made here.

Travelling on a bus sitting near a teenager carrying a four foot long sword is a most disconcerting experience for most Britons! Perhaps the best views of the city as a whole can be obtained by going over one of the bridges across the Tajo and driving or walking up the hills opposite, where there are many former estates of the Toledo aristocracy which have now been converted into hotels – the Parador is up here. The views of the city, especially at dawn and sunset, are totally breathtaking. Other Attractions in Castilla La Mancha Las Casas Colgadas … the Hanging Houses of Cuenca Cuenca: The 2nd most visited town in Castilla La Mancha has a well-preserved, picturesque centre, with an imposing Gothic cathedral, but is most famous for its incredible ‘hanging houses’, clinging precariously to cliffs 200m above the junction of two river canyons. Cuenca, unlike much of the region, is close to lush, green forests and impressive mountain peaks but now also attracts many visitors who have read about the city in the final chapters of CJ Sansom’s best seller, ‘Winter in Madrid’ .

Consuegra: Don Quijote aficionados can still find the ‘giants’ he went into battle against by visiting the windmills at Conseguera and also visit Dulcinea’s house at Toboso. Cervantes’ own home is well-preserved in the village of Esquivias. Guadalajara: A historic city with fine Moorish walls and a surviving bridge across the river Henares, a Mudejar style church and a fifteenth century palace. When to Visit Castilla La Mancha Climate: The region experiences a predominantly Mediterranean climate, but also has some Continental aspects. The further south you go in the Meseta, then the longer the summers and the warmer the winters become. The mountain areas often experience a high rainfall – with snow at the highest altitudes – whereas in the central areas there is generally only between 300mm and 400mm annually. Festivals: Two annual festivals in the region of major national and international interest are the Corpus Christi celebrations in Toledo and Holy Week in Cuenca.

Other festivals of interest include the Moors and Christians at Valverde del Júcar and Caudete; the Festival of Medieval theatre in Hita; the Saffron Rose Festival every October in Consuegra; the January Cow Festival of San Pablo de los Montes; the Festival of the Olive held in Mora each April; and the colourful devil-themed festival La Endiablada each February in Almonacid de Marquesado. Food and Drink of Castilla La Mancha Manchego cheese, generally considered to be the finest in Spain, is produced here from ewe’s milk. Popular regional dishes include Asadillo manchego, which is a salad of tomatoes, roasted peppers, garlic and olive oil and Pisto manchego con huevos, a mix of peppers, tomatoes, onions, courgettes, ham and a fried egg. Lamb is very popular, along with partridge but be aware that if you see Gazpacho Manchego on a menu it will not be a cold tomato soup. Instead expect to get a stew of chicken, rabbit and perhaps hare or pigeon served on a piece of flat bread.

Toledo is famous for its marzipan – there’s even a shop that has a model of the town sculpted in marzipan in the window. Wine has always been a thriving industry here with the best-known Denominaciones de Origen being La Mancha and Valdepeñas. Whilst many a bottle of cheap and cheerful Valdepeñas has been enjoyed over a ‘menú del día’, recent times has seen a modernisation of the local industry and an attempt to highlight the region’s best crianzas and reservas. Where Have you Been in Castilla La Mancha? Few other regions have such a key main attraction as Castilla La Mancha does with the wonderful city of Toledo. Have you been there or to any other places in the area? Please let us know your experiences and any travel advice you may have in the comments box below. Castilla la Mancha Spain, tourism and travel guide Castilla La Mancha Visit Castilla La Mancha Castilla-La-Mancha is the Spain of Don Quijote legend with immense flat plains, vertiginous canyons, and hilltop castles and windmills throughout.

Castilla-La Mancha Tourist Sites and Places to Visit Castilla-La Mancha is situated in central Spain to the east and south of Madrid. Its regional capital is the historic city of Toledo. The region is famous for the adventures of the flamboyant Don Quiote in Cervantes novel "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha" and there is now a Quiote route taking in the important landmarks of the book including the iconic windmills of Consuegra. Below we introduce you to the five provinces of Castilla-La Mancha, offering suggestions and highlights to enable you to plan your perfect Spanish holiday. Guadalajara - Northern Castilla-La Mancha Rolling plains dotted with hills some of which are topped by splendid castles form the backdrop of this, the most northerly of the Castilla-La Mancha provinces. In the north is the medieval town of Atienza with its lovely arcaded squares and the ruins of a 12th century castle perched on top of a steep, rocky cliff. A little south of here is Siguenza, a hillside town with a beautiful Romanesque cathedral and a castle turned into a luxury parador.

Whilst near Siguenza make a point of visiting the 'Black Architecture villages', so called for the use of slate in their construction. The city of Guadalajara is the capital of the province and home to the Infantado Palace with its excellent Renaissance facade. Over on the eastern edge of the province is the town of Molina de Aragon dominated by its castle and huge medieval walls. Toledo -Western Castilla-La Mancha Toledo offers a wide range of countryside with wide-open plains, high mountains and some real treasures with regards towns and villages. At the centre of the Toledo province is its capital the wonderful city of Toledo . Considered to be one of the most splendid cities in Spain the beautiful buildings of Toledo climb up a hill to the Alcazar at its summit. Toledo can be visited as a day trip from Madrid but certainly deserves more time than that. Consuegra to the south of the Toledo province is the essence of Don Quiote's Spain with its ridge above the town topped by a line of white windmills.

North of Toledo and not far from Madrid is the Carreteras Archaeological park, one of Spain's most important Roman sites whilst to the east is Tembleque with its stunning main square built along the lines of the old open-air theatres. Another beautiful town square can be found at Oropesa to the east of Toledo. The province is home to the Cabaneros National Park which is the largest Iberian forest and home to a huge variety of plant species and a large animal and bird population including many endangered species. Cuenca - Eastern Castilla-La Mancha Cuenca is home to the highest mountains in the region, dramatic gorges, large flat plains and two UNESCO World Heritage listings. In the middle of the province is the city of Cuenca and the jewel of the province. The city sits between two dramatic gorges and its hanging houses are an extraordinary sight. The fortified town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also a World Heritage site are the caves of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin some of which are in Cuenca province. Castilla-La Mancha is the home of many castles and two excellent examples can bee seen at Alarcon with its magnificent castle and defensive walls and at Belmonte .

In the south-west of the province at Segobria there is a ruined roman city including an ampitheatre. The Cuenca mountain range is an area of outstanding beauty. Ciudad Real - South western Castilla-La Mancha Ciudad Real is the only Spanish province with two national parks, and as well as its natural interest it also has some magnificent towns and castles. The Cabaneros National Park is shared with the province of Toledo and is the largest area of Iberian Mediterranean forest. By contrast the Tablas de Daimiel National Park is a wetlands park. Another pretty area is the Natural Park of the Lagunas de Ruidera with about 15 lakes connected by falls, rivers and underground water. Not surprisingly given the dryness of the surrounding area the lakes are a haven for birds and wildlife. In the middle of the province is the city of Ciudad Real with its medieval walls and watchtowers. Highlights include Villanueva de Los Infantes famous for its beautiful Renaissance and Baroque architecture and for being the alleged home of Don Quijote in the novel by Cervantes. Another Don Quiote landmark is the village of Campo de Criptana with its famous windmills.

Not to be missed is Almagro with its wonderful main square and 16th century-open air theatre. Near to here is Calatrava la Nueva, a magnificent medieval castle. Albacete - South eatern Castilla-La Mancha The vast plains of Spain cover most of this province giving way to the mountains of the Segurra range in the south-east of the province. UNESCO World Heritage caves are a highlight of the province. The Rock art ot the iberian Mediterranean has been listed as a World Heritage Site and covers a network of over 700 caves and shelters. A large concentration of these can be found in Albacete with 79 places. The most interesting town is Alcaraz , to the west, with its lovely 16th century Plaza Mayor. La Roda is another town with beautiful Renaissance architecture whilst Hellin still has a medieval centre. Alcala del Jucar is a beautiful village on the edge of the Jucar river.

More information Fun Things To Do in Castilla-La Mancha - Attractions & Must See - VirtualTourist Private Custom Day Trip to Toledo from Madrid "Once your private guide picks you up from your Madrid accommodation (if option selected) you will head off to Toledo in a private car with chauffeur.You can choose or private vehicle to Segovia or train ride to Segovia. You can customize your tour to fit your needs and interests. See below an example of what you could include Synagogue El Transito Church of Santiago del Arrabal El Cristo de la luz (small mosque-oratory built in 999 then converted to a church) Tonerías Mosque Alcazar fortress Puerta de Bisagra Nueva (Main entrance and face of Toledo) Puerta de Bisagra (main entrance to the city in Andalusian times) Puerta del Sol Toledo Your Own Way with Tourist Bracelet from Madrid "Visit the most famous monuments The old Jewish Quarter with its narrow streets and the Church of St.Tomé with the famous painting by El Greco “The Burial of Count Orgaz”. You will also visit The Old Synagogue of St.

Maria la Blanca which remains as a symbol of the coexistence of multiple cultures in Toldeo The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes and The Cristo de la Luz Mosque with the tourist bracelet. The a great way to get to know this unique city. This is one the most visited cities in the world take advantage of this excellent opportunity to learn and feel the city as a local." Toledo At Your Own Pace from Madrid "You will meet your guide in Madrid´s agreed location and then head to Toledo.

Once you arrive to Toledo you will be able to choose from three options: whether to do the walking tour on your own or combine your walking tour with the “Tourist Bracelet” or the “Tourist Train”.Booking with Tourist Bracelet:The “Pulsera Turística” (Tourist bracelet) gives you access to enter and enjoy the six most important monuments of Toledo and their ancient history: The Jesuit church The Regions of Spain; a short guide Valencia / Murcia For much of its recent history, Spain has been a country of conflicting identities; on the one hand a national identity hingeing on the concept of Spain as a single country; on the other hand a network of regional identities, many regions of Spain displaying distinct regional characteristics, and even using their own distinct languages. In the time of General Franco, the vision of Spain as a single united country prevailed, and was even enforced; in the modern post-Franco era, Spain has taken the path of devolution, with the creation of "autonomous communities" with their own parliaments, institutions, cultural identities and even languages.

Though "Spanish", often reffered to as "Castilian", remains the main language spoken in modern Spain, it is by no means the only language. In Catalonia, the most prosperous region of Spain, the official language is Catalan; and in the Basque country, Basque exists alongside Spanish. But even in some provinces where Castilian Spanish is widely spoken, it exists alongside regional dialects or languages. This is the case in Valencia and Galicia Galicia Capital: Santiago de Compostella. Biggest city: Vigo Galicia lies at the northwest tip of Spain. An Atlantic coastal region, it benefits from a temperate climate and adequate rainfall, making it the greenest region in Spain. The population of Galicia is concentrated along the coast, and in the cities of Vigo and A Coruña (Coruna), major port cities. Vigo is the largest fishing port in Europe, and an industrial hub, with shipbuilding and car manufacturing. Away from the urban areas, Galicia has a dramtic rocky coastline, deeply indented on the western side by fijord-like inlets, rock but less indented along the northern coast.

Inland from the coast, Galicia remains a relatively poor agricultural region, with a lot of small farmers. The terrain is hilly and rocky, and in many parts densely forested. Galicia and Asturias, like Brittany or Wales or Ireland, belong to Europe's Celtic fringe and share certain cultural traditions such as bagpipes. Asturias & Cantabria Asturias: capital Oviedo. Cantabria: capital Santander. For most of its length, the coastline of northern Spain is hilly or even mountainous. Behind a narrow and fertile coastal plain, the terrain rises steeply into the mountains of Cantabria and Asturias, known collectively as the Cantabrian Mountains, culminating in the the Picos de Europa, dramatic and rocky mountains with deep valleys and soaring peaks. The area has been nicknamed "Switzerland on the sea", on account of the proximity of high mountain peaks, green valleys, and the Atlantic ocean. Tourism was slow to develop here, and the north coast of Spain has not seen to much of the urbanization that has blighted long stretches of Spain's Mediterranean coast.

Nevertheless, around the ports of Santander and Gijon, the coastline has seen a fair amount of tourist development in recent decades. Away from this, there are long stretches of relatively unblemished coastline, with fields and meadows coming right down to the water's edge - or in most cases, the clifftops. Like Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias are parts of what is known as "Green Spain" (España Verde) on account of their oceanic climate. They are small regions, just including the coastal areas and the northern slopes of the Cantabrian mountains. Basque Country / Pais Vasco / Euskadi Capital Vitoria (Gasteiz) Though renowned through Spain and beyond on account of its violent separatist movement ETA, the Basque country is actually the most propserous region in Spain in terms of GDP per inhabitant, thanks to its industrial sector, its tourism and its agricultural activity. There are two official languages in the Basque Country, Basque (Euskara) and Spanish (Castilian): having totally different origins, the Basque language is completely different from Spanish, which explains why many places in the Basque area have two quite different sounding names.

The region has two big industrial and commercial cities, the ports of Bilbao and San Sebastian (Donostia). Between them, the rocky Atlantic coastline offers a number of small resorts that have seen development in recent decades, though not on the scale of the Mediterranean coast. The northern half of the Basque country is hilly - the Basque hills being the westward extension of the Pyrenees. But unlike the Spanish Pyrenees, the Basque hill country benefits from more rainfall, making it a green and wooded area. The hills and valleys are dotted with small villages and isolated farmsteads, and are popular with ramblers and hikers. The southern part of the Basque Country, the province of Avala, south of the coastal mountains, enjoys a much more continental climate. Most of the population of Avala is concentrated in the Vitoria conglomeration. Beyond the capital city, the area is largely agricultural, particularly on the flat expanses of the upper Ebro valley. Aragon Zaragoza Capital: Zaragoza (Saragossa) Landlocked Aragon, where the people speak Spanish, is a sparsely-populated province which is mainly rural - with agriculture wherever it is possible.

However, on its dry hilly areas, little economic activity is possible beyond grazing and in places, and where the land is accessible, forestry. The northern parts of Aragon is made up of the Pyrenees mountains which, on this southern side, are fairly dry and arid. Narrow valleys with rocky gorges are characteristic of this region. South of the Pyrenees, the wide Ebro valley around Zaragoza or Saragossa is a fertile agricultural region. In the south east, between the fertile agricultural plains and the coast, lies a dry hilly area of Mediterranean pine forest and olive groves. This part of Spain is, like most regions, rich in history and culture, particularly visible in the Moorish and Mozarab heritage of Zaragoza , the Mudejar heritage of Teruel, and ancient castles such as the Romanesque fortress at Loarre. Castilla y Leon / Castile and Leon: Segovia, Castilla y Leon Photo McPolu, Capital: Valladolid This is the heart of Spain. The historic region of Castile was the area round the capital Madrid, and the historic heart of Spain.

Old Castile is now split into three regions, with Castile & Leon the largest of the three in terms of surface area, though not in terms of population. Madrid itself, historically the capital of Castile, is now an independent autonomous metropolitan region In the past, Castile was a wild desolate area, where people lived together in fortified cities or castles; many of these survive to this day, including some of the jewels in the Spainsh crown, the cities of Avila, Salamanca or Segovia, all classed as UNESCO world heritage sites - not forgetting the great cultural heritage of other cities such as Leon, Valladolid or Burgos, or the amazing romanesque cloisters of the monastery at Santo Domingo de Silos. The great open expanses of Castile are largely given over to agriculture, particularly cereals; but most of this region lies at an altitude of 800m or more, and the climate is dry and cold in winter, dry and hot in summer. Though the mountains in around the Castilian mesa support pine forests, there are large expanses in the middle of the region where it is only alongside water courses that trees grow naturally, and irrigated farming can be practised.

More on Castile y Leon Madrid Historically part of Castile, Madrid today is its own autonomous region, and the most densely populated area in Spain. The Spanish metropolitan area is home to about 6 million people, and is a bustling and prosperous area, with a strong serviced-based economy. The area has seen massive development in the past decades. Old Madrid is famous for its urban architecture, its ornate churches and its world-famous museum and art-gallery the Prado. Like the rest of central Spain, Madrid enjoys a continental climate, hot and dry in summer, cold and largely dry in winter. The city lies at an altitude of almost 650 metres above sea level, making it the highest capital city among European union member states. Catalonia Northern Costa Brava Capital: Barcelona. Catalonia is the richest and, with almost seven million inhabitants, the second most heavily populated region of Spain. The first thing that surprises many visitors when they first visit Catalonia is that people in this region don't speak Spanish. Freed from the constraints of the Franco era, when Castilian Spanish was imposed throughout Spain, Castilian autonomous governments have reinstated Catalan as the regional language, to the point where it is now usually the only language used.

For example, in museums, items are sometimes labeled in Catalan and English, but not in Castilian Spanish - to the annoyance of visitors from other parts of Spain. That being said, Catalan and Castilian are sufficiently close for most Spanish-speakers to be able to understand road-signs and other information. Evening in Barcelona Photo Baikonur The area round Barcelona, Spain's second city, a thriving business city and one of the major ports on the Mediterranean, is fairly densely built-up. The densely populated areas extend along the coast, and into the valleys northwest of Barcelona, where there is still a fair amount of heavy industry. Barcelona is linked to Madrid by the AVE, Spain's high-speed rail network, and work will soon be completed to the French border, allowing direct high-speed train services between Barcelona and Paris. Catalonia, bordering on France, is the most easily accessible of Spain's regions, and the Costa Brava was the first part of Spain to rush headlong into mass tourism development. North and south of Barcelona, the coast is a string of suburban and holiday developments, crowding in on the small seaside towns.

Today there are nevertheless still a few unspoilt places along the coastline, particularly in the north of the region; but it is the region's hinterland that offers the wide spaces and the natural areas that attract visitors in search of an escape from the crowds. The Catalonian Pyrenees, popular with hikers and outdoor enthuiasts, offer some magnificent rocky mountain scenery, dramatic gorges, peaks and magnificent vistas, but also a rich collection of historic sites, such as the UNESCO World Heritage listed mediaeval churches in the area of Tahull. Navarra & Rioja Bardenas Reales, Navarra Navarra: capital Pamplona. Navarra is a region covering the foothills and central western section of the Pyrenees, bordering on France and the Basque country. But like Castile it is a region that is very dry in parts, even barren and inhospitable, and the Bardenas Reales natural park offers some spectacular semi-desert landscapes reminiscent of America's Wild West . Navarra is the leading region of Europe in terms of renewable energy, with a target of 100% renewable energy use by 2050.

Almost half the region's electricity is produced by the area's 28 wind farms, with hydroelectricity being the second source. With its dry sunny climate, Navarra also has potential for the development of solar power. To the south of Aragon , Rioja, along the upper Ebro valley, is the smallest region in Spain, and notably famous for its wines. Castilla la Mancha Windmill in Castilla la Mancha Capital: Toldedo Castilla la Mancha is another sparsely populated region, but one where agriculture is more extensive. Between the cities of Albacete and Ciudad Real vast wheat fields stretch as far as the eye can see, and there are also important vineyards and other crops. Where there are hills, they are dry and barren, but windy too; this is the country where the legendary Don Quixote wanted to fight the windmills. The cultural heritage of Castila la Mancha has remained remarkably intact, notably with the dramatic city of Toledo, the former home of the great Spanish painter El Greco. The area around Todedo is famous for its olives.

Plans by an American company to build a massive Las Vegas style casino close to Ciudad Real have been shelved, much to the relief of many local inhabitants. Trujillo Capital Mérida Extremadura, bordering to its west on Portugal, is, and has long been, the poorest region in Spain; in the past, its poverty led to many of its population fleeing elswhere in search of better fortune, often to South America. Two of the greatest "Conquistadores", Pizarro and Cortés, were from this region, and they and others like them brought back from South America great wealth which they spent on large country estates and prestigious palaces in towns such as Caceres and Trujillo. Further south, the regional capital Merida was once an important Roman city, and boasts the finest Roman remains in Spain, including an amazing long Roman bridge and a large Roman theatre - as well as the Spanish national museum of Antiquity. Today the region remains sparsely populated; large parts are too poor to cultivate, and are given over to subsitance farming. Elsewhere the landscape is of olive groves or scrub oak and in more fertile parts rolling fields of wheat.

But the granite bedrock is never far below the surface, and indeed often breaks through in rocky tors. The mountain areas of Extremadura are very wild, and popular with bird-watchers and hikers. Though for hikers, the infrastructure remains relatively limited. More information: Guide to Extremadura Peñiscola Capitals: Valencia and Murcia. The regions of Valencia and Murcia look steadfastly out to sea. In this dry central eastern part of Spain, it is on the coastal strip that the large majority of the population is concentrated; and it is a population that has vastly expanded in recent decades with the over-development of mile after mile of coastal resorts, "urbanizaciones" and their associated infrasructure. Yet the coastline is long, and there are still some relatively unspoiled sections of beach, or rocky coves, for those who want to get away from the crowds. Apart from tourism, the main activity in this region is agriculture, particularly in the fertile valleys of Murcia, where large surfaces are given over to the production of fruit and vegetables. Valencia is the capital of the Spanish orange and citrus industry.

The Moors introduced the cultivation of palm trees into this area, and the city of Elche, near Alicante, boasts Europe's only extensive palm groves. Generally speaking this is a dry region, and the hills inland from the coast are arid and rocky, like much of Spain. Small villages and towns cling to hillsides, or stand beside rivers or streams; but this inland area is sparsely populated, and a world apart from the thronging crowds of Benidorm or La Manga. Culturally, the region has plenty to offer, from the historic centres of Valencia and Murcia, to the palm groves of Elche and the moorish remains at Lorca and elsewhere. More information on the Region of Valencia In the Alpujarras Capital: Sevilla Andalucia is the southernmost region of continental Europe; it is tha largest region in Spain, and has the largest population, most of it concentrated along the coast and in the Guadalquivir valley.

While its once-beautiful coastline has been largely massacred by often uncontrolled property speculation and intensive agriculture (la "plasticultura"), inland, and often still quite close to the coast, Andalucia remains a magnificent region of hills and plains, with some of the richest cultural heritage in Spain. Andalucia was the last European fief of the Moors, and "Al Andalus" boasts some of the finest historic vestiges of Moorish culture. The Moors were not driven out of Andalucia until 1492, the year in which Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas. The great Moorish heritage of Andalucia survives to this day in many Alcazars and other buildings, but most famously in the Mesquita at Cordoba and the Alhambra at Granada, among the most visited historic monuments in Europe. The mosque at Cordoba Mostly dry and hot, Andalucia is one of the poorest regions of Spain, particularly away from the intensely tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast between Malaga and Marbella. Behind the coast, much of the region is very hilly and mountainous, culminating in the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada.

Between the Sierra Nevada and the coast lie the Alpujarras, where the last Moors in Spain were sent to live. To this day, the area, with its white villages clinging to hillsides, is very similar to parts of Morrocco., The high Alpujarras and the Sierra Nevada offer great opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities, specially in Spring and Autumn when the rest of Europe feels distinctly cooler. Northern and eastern Andalucia is sparsely populated, many parts being characterised today by endless olive groves, largely a result of EU subsidies, not of any great historic tradition. Other parts, however, are dry and virtual semi-desert. Just inland from the port of Almeria lies the Desierto de Tabernas, the only area in Europe officially designated as a desert. The most fertile part of Andalucia is the central valley of the river Guadalquivir which, flowing through Sevilla, reaches the Atlantic coast west of the port city of Cadiz.

Though the flow of the river is very seasonal, the Guadalquivir and its tributaries sustain agricultural activity throughout the area, including the production of Sherry, which comes from the area aroung Jerez de la Frontera.. Toledo City Guide - Spanish Programs, Universities & Education in Spain Home > Study in Spain > City Guide > Toledo Toledo City Guide Getting to Getting around the city In 1986, UNESCO rightly named the city of Toledo a World Heritage Site. Located in the very heart of Spain on a rocky headland and bordered by the river Tajo, it is only 70 kilometres away from Madrid, the capital. Toledo was once the capital city of Spain which is why it is of such importance and is currently the capital the province of Toledo and the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha. With a vast cultural history, Toledo is unique in that is has been of huge significance to the Muslim, Hebrew and Christian faiths which all left behind their mark in the form of churches, synagogues, mosques and stunning architecture.

There are many idyllic street passages, squares and gardens to enjoy during your visit and you will be quickly consumed by the abundant cultural elements and history this gem of a city has to offer. Toledo boasts a majestic church at every turn and you will not be short of visits to make with its vast number of palaces and castles. As well as this, Toledo is well known for its marzipan so this should be tried at one of the many authentic bars or cafés dotted around the town. Places of Interest Alcázar Located on the highest hill of the city, this majestic Moorish masterpiece dominates the horizon and is one of the few buildings outside of the city. It was once used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century and was renovated in the early 16th century. The building currently houses the Castilla La Mancha Regional Library and Museum of the Army. Each façade of the building shows the artistic time in which it was constructed within the different stages of the Spanish Renaissance and there is a large central patio which is surrounded by two galleries. This is a stunning sight and a must see during your stay in Toledo.

Puente de San Martín Built in a Gothic style, this bridge is located to the west of the city and was constructed during the 14th century to replace one which existed earlier. There are two fortified towers at each end as well as break taking views from the Old Historic Town over the Tagus River and the natural landscape of Los Cigarreles. San Martín was eventually named a National Monument in 1921. Iglesia de Santo Tomé (El Greco) This is the most visited church in the whole city of Toledo and contains the famous el Greco painting "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" which is one of the greatest masterpieces of all time and hangs above the Count's tomb. The church was originally situated in a Mosque however was completely renovated by the Count of Orgaz and converted into a church in the 14th century. The church currently displays a Mudejar style and has very characteristic features. It is approximately €2,30 to visit Santo Tomé however is free during Wednesday afternoons for EU residents. Catedral Primada Since 1088, this gothic cathedral has been recognised as the main church of Toledo.

The cathedral is hidden away in the centre of the city and to appreciate its full beauty the opportunity should be taken to climb one of the many towers dotted around the city and admire the aerial view of the cathedral that can be seen across the whole city. The building's oldest door is that of the north transept and was inspired by the corresponding door of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Entry to visit may be a steep 7€ but definitely worth the price! Palacio Arzobispal This archbishop's palace is located on one of the sides of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Dating back to 16th century, this palace takes on a renaissance architectural style with some remnants of the earlier Mudejar influence. The entrance is made of stone and takes on a similar structure to the Alcázar. The Palacio Arzobispal has a vast and interesting history and there have been extensions to it over time. A notable one is the opening of the entrance for coaches on the hill of the Arco del Palacio. As this stands in the city centre, it is worth a fleeting visit on your way past.

Museums Museum of El Greco Here within, you will find some of the works of El Greco of which the most remarkable are "apostolate", "View and map of the town of Toledo" and "The tears of San Pedro". There is also a selection of paintings by other artists too. The building was constructed during the early 20th century which combined a 16th century building as well as a Renaissance palace. Finally, opened in 1912, it has been subject to much popularity and was decorated by the Marquis of Vega-Inclán with 16th century furniture and objects. Military Museum This highly significant museum is home to a number of important military objects such as knives, firearms, uniforms, miniature figures and even battle plans. Located in the Alcázar Castle, a section of the Military Museum in Madrid has been moved there and is currently undergoing preparation. The museum proves an educational and interesting visit as it contains much medieval artillery, pieces from the arms factory in Toledo and a number of other objects from various centuries.

Sephardic Museum The Sephardic Museum of the city of Toledo is the National Museum of Hispano-Jewish and Sephardic art and holds an abundance of the remains of the Jewish culture. Inside, there are 5 halls and each represent the historic, religious and cultural aspects of Jewish history in Spain. The museum is of great architectural beauty inside and has a number of stunning aspects such as plant motifs on the walls and an impressive coffered collar-beam ceiling. Entry is €2,40 however it is free on Saturday evenings and Sundays. Maps Getting to Toledo By Train The high speed train AVE takes 30 minutes to get to Madrid's Atocha station and costs a mere €15 for a day return. However, getting a bus would be cheaper as you have to arrive earlier at the train station to leave time for boarding etc. By Bus Buses run between Toledo and Madrid every half hour with the coach company ALSA until 21:30. The trip takes about one hour and is less than €9 for a return. From the Toledo bus terminal the walk into the old town is steep but is picturesque and idyllic so there is no reason to complain.

However, if you would prefer it, there is a local bus service that will take you into the old town. Getting around the city By foot Toledo is the perfect city to walk around on foot as all of its monuments, museums and places of interest are close to one another. The only problem is that Toledo is built on a hill therefore can be quite steep and many streets are made of stones and cobblestones however if you are wearing comfortable shoes you should be just fine. By bus There are a number of bus lines that will take you through the city and are a good alternative if you are feeling a bit tired from all the trekking around. Buses will generally take you to the city centre. By ZocoTren This is a special sightseeing tourist train which offers visitors a panoramic view of Toledo and a visit through some of the streets. There is pre-recorded tourist information available in Spanish, English and French and the train runs regularly every day of the week from 11am to midnight. The trip lasts approximately 50 minutes and costs €3,45 and €2,10 for children. Find out your course Keyword Universities & Schools

Question: Which city, once the capital of Spain is now the regional capital of Castilla La Mancha?
Answer: Toledo